June 12, 2012

Fred's Dead and Dogs Liked Him

You learn much about a community by reading the obits in the newspaper. They generally have the shortest writing and the best stories. These stories tell me about who lives, or lived, what they did and who they loved or left behind. You can tell a lot about a city or town by reading these passages: diversity, wealth, lifespan, hopes and dreams. They are little markers of a community’s makeup.

Good reporters turn to these pages right away for tips and leads. There’s gems buried in the white space between the black lines. I still remember Katie Bedford’s obit in the paper in 2001 when I was a young city editor. It was a standard obit written by a funeral director laying out the facts. Said she died suddenly, left behind a young baby, pre-deceased by her father. Clues and alarm bells everywhere.

Susan Clairmont snipped the obit and followed the story. Her lede was short, sharp and powerful:

"She was a mother. Daughter. Sister. Drop-out. Prostitute. Junkie. She was 15 years old. Katie was buried last week, just a few graves down from her father. Two years ago, he overdosed on tranquilizers and cocaine. He didn't make it to his 40th birthday."

Read the obits and you'll find stories of inspiration, lessons, despair and humour. These are the end notes of our lives.

Yesterday, the obit announcing Fredrick Ross Hummason's death caught my eye. He was 92, born May 14, 1920 and died June 6, 2012. Fred sounded likely a lively character. He was an engineer. Had a cottage on Lake Erie and hunt camp in Saskatchewan. He had a wife, Betty, four kids (one died before him), seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Fred loved dogs. They loved him back. One of them, Breeze, will forever rest with Fred and Betty.

Whoever wrote the obit had the confidence and courage to capture Fred’s spirit. The obit began with one of the best headlines in the paper: “Fred’s Dead and Dogs Liked Him.”

Catchy opener. And then the closer: "There is to be no service - (don't spend the money). Fred's and Betty's ashes, along with best friend Breeze, will be laid to rest in Fred's home town of Lockwood, Saskatchewan. To honour Fred's memory, embrace your family."